The New York State Legislature purchased the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation from famed abolitionist Gerrit Smith in 1865, shortly after Abraham Lincoln's funeral train passed through Albany. Smith had won the document in a lottery held at the Albany Relief Bazaar in the winter of 1864. How this priceless artifact came to Albany, and eventually to the New York State Library, is a tale of politics and patriotism, redolent of the city's storied history as the capital of New York State.
"With the President's Permission..." How New York Acquired the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation was written by Paul Mercer which is located in The Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and related documents from the collections of the NYS Library.
New York State Library, Manuscripts and Special Collections, BRO0016+
Larger version of the poster (PDF, 2.37 MB)
Patrons line up outside the entrance of the bazaar entry gate with an American flag flying behind the building.
'American Relief Bazaar' on a sign atop the entrance.
New York State Library, Manuscripts and Special Collections, BRO0016+
Larger version of the poster (PDF, 2.37 MB)
From: Albany Army Relief Association. Journal, 1861-1869. New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections, BD13614
From: The Canteen. Albany, NY, 1864. No. 1 (February 22, 1864), p. 1.
Digitized version of The Canteen newsletter (PDF, 28.47 MB), containing twelve issues published between February 22 and March 5, 1864.
Cropped from a larger photo, "Mr. and Mrs. William Barnes, One of the surviving delegates to Saratoga Convention, August 16, 1854."
From: Semi-Centennial of the Republican Party: Proceedings at the Celebration at Saratoga Springs, September 14, 1904, PDF p. 49.
Cropped from a larger photo, "Gerrit Smith, Philanthropist."
From: Meserve, Frederick Hill comp. Historical portraits: a collection of photographs printed directly from the original negatives. (New York: Privately Printed for the New York State Library, 1913). Volume 7, p. 68.
New York State Library, Manuscripts and Special Collections V 920 qM57
Larger version of ticket (PDF, .5 MB)
Cropped from a larger photo, "City Hall, New York: Crowd waiting to view the body of Lincoln."
From: Meserve, Frederick Hill comp. Historical portraits: a collection of photographs printed directly from the original negatives. (New York: Privately Printed for the New York State Library, 1913). Volume 27, p. 86.
New York State Library, Manuscripts and Special Collections, V 920 qM57